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order to achieve the best support for talent acquisition. Based on case study this paper
contends that information technology is a powerful tool in forging this link, and advocates an
increased understanding of this concept to develop its maximum potential. The study aims at
investigating what role if any does information technology play in procurement. This study
describes how Information technology is expected to drive Human Resources transition from
a focus on pure procurement to talent acquisition. This strategic role is expected not only to
add a valuable dimension to the HR function, but also change the competencies that define
HR professional and practitioner success. The researchers used two techniques to investigate
the IT impact on recruitment for these firms. Both questionnaire survey and in-depth semistructured interviews were used. Whilst the former was used to obtain responses from HR
professionals in organizations, the latter targeted a small number of senior executives, in
order to gain deeper insights into emerging issues in recruitment. The theoretical framework
for this paper is based on HR literature concerning staff Recruitment and applications of
knowledge-based systems. The argument is illustrated by data accumulated from seven IT
firms.
Research Design
Current desk research is supplemented with case study documentation of seven IT and ITES
firms and just as Bromley (1990) has described case study as a systematic inquiry into an
event or a set of related events which aims to describe and explain the phenomenon of
interest (p. 302); the field data has been used as harbinger for conceptual data, thus
establishing the contextual relevance. While there is utility in applying this method
retrospectively, it is most often used prospectively. The nature of the research questions
required that the procurement activity of each case be studied through the gathering of an
array of data. This enabled the researcher to develop greater levels of understanding about the
management of procurement in each firm utilizing IT. The interview data comprised semistructured interviews conducted with executives across a range of roles in the organisations
including: HR, IT, and Operations. Interviewees were selected on the basis of their
involvement in the decision to implement or upgrade IT in their organizations.
Literature Survey
Management scholars have long called for stronger and more explicit paths between strategic
planning and applications in human resources. Yet implementation guidance for this vital
connection has proved elusive (Lawler, E. E., Levenson, A., & Boudreau, J. W. 2004).
Although there has been a growing body of academic interest in information technology, the
majority of interest is around how information technology supports and integrates with
corporate strategy to enable competitive advantage (Broderick and Boudreau 1992; Hannon et
al 1996; Minneman 1996; Tansley et al 2001; Williams 2000), and the presence and fit in
different organisations (Ball 2001; CIPD 2007). There is limited and dated research around the
information systems skills and knowledge of the HR specialist (Bratton John and Gold Jeffrey
(2003). HRM activities such as planning and recruitment play enormous responsibilities on the
supervisors and managers alike. These activities require analyzing jobs, planning employee
needs, and sourcing requisite employee pool for selection (Dessler et al., 1999). However, the
human resource management function has faced a scuffle in justifying the use of information
technology and its position in organizations for procurement. In another development, the
need for HR to become a strategic partner is being felt increasingly, where information
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technology provides management with strategic data not only in recruitment but also in
merging information technology data into large-scale corporate strategy (Buckle Patrick y,
Minette Kathleen, Dennis Joy and Michaels Jeff (2004). Thus it can be presumed that the data
collected by utilizing information technology provides management with decision-making
tool. Through proper HR management, firms are able to perform calculations that have effects
on the business as a whole. Such calculations include turnover rates and costs, time required to
fill certain jobs, return on human capital invested, and human value added. It must be noted
though, that, none of these calculations result in cost reduction in the HR function and most
notably, it supports the provision of executive reports for decision making (Gerardine
DeSanctis,1986).
Moreover, Buckley et al., (2004) in their study The use of an automated employment
recruiting and screening system for temporary professional employees: A case study,
showed conservative savings due to reduced employee turnover, reduced staffing costs, and
increased hiring-process efficiencies. The researchers revealed a cumulative savings yielded a
return on investment and that was attributable to the use of information technology.
Furthermore, Gardner et al., (2003), in their research work Virtual HR: the impact of
information technology on human resource professional investigated the extensive use IT
influence on jobs in professional occupational segment of human resources (HR). They
concluded that extensive use of IT enabled HR professional to have more information
autonomy, and it is positively associated with HR professional spending and a more time on
IT support activities. In addition, functional specialists reported increased time demands for
both transformational activities and IT support activities. More so, the result supported the
theorized impact suggesting that with more IT, HR tasks are further automated (Broderick
and Boudreau, 1992; Greengard, 1999; Groe and Pyle, 1996; Hatlevig, 1995; Wilcox, 1997).
Baran et al., (2002) examined the differences in HR practices and the effects of new HR
practices on organizational change.
Information Technology (IT) is introduced by presenting the various definitions,
development, costs and benefits, as well as their functions and relationship with HRM.
Information technology shapes an integration between human resource management (HRM)
and Information Technology. Even though these systems may rely on centralized hardware
resources operationally, a small group of Information System specialists residing within the
personnel department increasingly manage, support, and maintain them. Lando et al.,
(1994). Information technology can support planning, administration, decision-making, and
control. The system supports applications such as employee sourcing and selection and
placement, payroll, pension and benefits management, intake and training projections,
career-planning, equity monitoring, and productivity evaluation. These information systems
increase administrative efficiency and produce reports capable of improving decision-making
(Gerardine DeSanctis, 1986). Recent developments in technology have made it possible to
create a real-time information-based, self-service, and interactive work environment.
Personnel Information Systems have evolved from the automated employee recordkeeping
from the 1960s into more complex reporting and decision systems of late (Gerardine
DeSanctis, 1986: 15).Today, managers and employees are assuming activities once
considered the domain of human resource professionals and administrative personnel. This
represents a significant break with the past, but an improvement in overall organizational
effectiveness. Consequently, given the authority and relevant accessible information for
decision-making, both managers and employees respond more quickly to changes (LengnickIRJBM ( www.irjbm.org ) November 2013 - Volume No V
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return on human capital invested, and human value added. It must be noted though, that as
per the respondents, none of these calculations result in cost reduction in the HR function. At
a basic level of communication where the IT application provides access to HR information,
the system is designed to automate existing processes and provide alternatives to existing
time consuming HR functionality. However, as the systems deliver more interactive HR
functionality (e.g. transnational talent requisition and employee turnover) the complexity of
the system increases costs, involves higher degrees of organizational interaction and thus
higher risk at relying completely on technology to identify suitable talent. However for such
firms the most important implementations of IT systems are in recruitment, as the need for
diverse talent is critical with respect to peculiarity of client projects and this is followed by its
utility in Training, and Performance Management Systems.
Impact of Information Technology in Managing Talent Acquisition.
Case analysis brought forth the utilization of information technology in these firms for talent
acquisition. Such systems help to track attrition and talent shortfall and manage exit data for
future sourcing in such firms; IT application in these firms also helps to look at skill gaps at
the time of sourcing for talent and hiring decisions. The respondents stated that success of the
system for talent acquisition depended on integration of all HR systems with right output
from one system flowing in as input to the subsequent system. For instance, information on
employee development emerging from Performance Management System, which in turn
flows for competency mapping, therefore identifies need for talent acquisition. This
enterprise wide resource planning was a challenge for one third of the organizations studied,
and these organizations were still coming to grips with reliability of information. Such
organizations were combining Information technology enabled data with traditional mode of
data sync, thus enhancing the scope for analysis and process improvement. The major
challenge these firms face is in getting the right talent and getting the talent with least time
lag from time of sourcing to selection, without increased cost of sourcing.
One third of the firms stated that IT helped in acquiring talent by strategizing sourcing
partners, such as enabling sourcing for vendors, vendor development particularly for
temporary staffing, creating alternate channels for recruitment and developing referrals.
Maximum utilization of IT was witnessed for sourcing from the application stage to interview
stage, with scores for facilitating correct fitment. Moreover, the most visible function of IT
application for these firms is the output generated. To generate valuable output for computer
users, the IT applications have to process that output, make the necessary calculations, and
then format the presentation in a way that is understood. For instance staff requisition from
across strategic units in domestic and overseas destination adds new data to the database after
data have been entered into the information system. Information technologies contribute
positively to staff recruitment for global IT service providers as indicated in the cases under
review. Especially its importance was felt in minimizing turnover, as it supports allocation of
employees to international engagements, including scheduling and training. Such companies
studied have adopted to culture and local labor market differences that influence the HR
functionalities needed. The case studies indicated the necessity for local requisitions to adapt
to global needs expressed through IT. These companies feel that the development of IT over
the last twenty years has been driven by imperatives to improve the service of the HR
function, further compounded by the growth of global enterprise-wide information systems
(GEIS) which are being used and such software system allows an organization to share
common data across functional areas of enterprises operating transnational and which
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Conclusions
Despite the benefits of information technology for corporations in talent acquisition such as
perfect match of talent with jobs, reduced time and costs per hire, the increased use for some
firms has also led to glut of applications. Therefore some of the companies who are forced to
find the best candidate in times of a "War for Talent need help to find this needle in a
haystack.
One solution for handling such contingency situation could be in e-commerce to recommend
products or services to customers purchasing specific products. Recommender systems could
assist the recruiter to find the adequate candidate within the applicant's database. In order to
support this search and selection process it is suggested by the researcher to conduct a design
science approach to integrate recommender systems in a holistic e-recruiting architecture and
therewith provide a complete and new solution for IT support in staff recruitment.
We conclude that the use of HR technologies is in a state of flux with most organizations
continuing to use a mix of traditional and technology-based HR methods. Furthermore,
technology-based solutions are not necessarily a panacea for HR managers: nearly a third
reported that their attempts to use HR technology have resulted in limited or moderate
success, with certain inherent challenges. At the same time, and in line with a social
constructionist approach to the study of technology challenges illustrates that utilization of
technology is also determined by the agency of its users and the social context within which it
is adopted. Therefore only through an appreciation of both the material and the social context
can a more informed understanding of the challenges that surround information technology
and its implementation for sourcing can be obtained. These socio-contextual factors are
compounded by the fact that each case study organisation has experienced significant change,
for example in ownership and structure of information technology for sourcing and other
administrative decisions. For instance staff requisition from across strategic units in domestic
and overseas destination may add new data to the database after data have been entered into
the information system. Moreover, the most visible function of an information technology is
the output generated. To generate valuable output for computer users, the information
technology have to process that output, make the necessary calculations, and then format the
presentation in a way that could be understood. However, the note of caution is that, while it
is easy to think of information systems in terms of the hardware and software packages used
to implement them and to measure them by the number of workstations, applications or users
who log onto the system, the most important elements of information technology are not the
computers, rather, the information. The bottom-line of any comprehensive information
technology have to be the information validity, reliability and utility first and the automation
of the process second.
HR professionals rely on the information technology in fulfilling job functions such as
employee requisitions by various departments or divisions. Thus, for the HR professional
there is an increasing reliance on the information technology to fulfill even the most
elementary tasks of calculating the vacant positions and its implication on cost. As human
capital plays a larger role in competitive advantage, functional managers expect the
information technology to provide functionality to meet the units goals and objectives.
Moreover, managers rely on the information technologys capabilities to provide superior
data collection and analysis, especially for resume processing, recruitment and potential
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retention of sourced candidates. An important conclusion that the researcher makes here is
the importance of integrating technologies with management of HR. Developments in
Information Technology have dramatically affected traditional HR functions with nearly
every HR function such as staffing, experiencing some sort of reengineering of its processes.
However, this process of change has created significant challenges for HR professionals
resulting in the transformation of traditional processes into on-line processes. Another
advantage that has emerged and felt by respondent firms is the increased efficiency. Rapid
computing technology has allowed more transactions to occur with fewer fixed resources.
Typical examples are processing applications for filling job vacancies and matching these
with prospective candidates for better match. Though technologies of early mainframes
provided significant efficiencies in these areas, the difference is that the record processing
efficiencies that were once only available to large firms are now readily available to any
organization size. Another advantage stated by the firms is the Increased Effectiveness. Most
often, as with processes, computer technology is designed to improve effectiveness in terms
of the accuracy of information or by using the technology to simplify the process. This is
especially the case where large data sets require reconciliation. However, onerous manual
reconciliation processes may be executed faster, but also with near perfect accuracy using
automated systems. For instance, matching job requirements with candidates specifications,
Using computer technology in these processes ensures accurate results and offer substantial
simplification and timeliness over manual processing. Consequently, the vast majority of HR
functions have had some degree of automation applied in order to gain both efficiency and
effectiveness. Online recruitment centers, along with the ability to conduct virtual interviews,
background checks, and personnel tests on-line have dramatically changed sourcing and
recruitment processes, increasing the geographic reach of firms for potential employees.
In conclusion, the researcher noted that for senior HR professionals, strategic use of
technology was increasingly the norm, irrespective of company size. Significant
implementations on HR systems, particularly for IT sector firms are in recruitment, as the
need for diverse talent is critical with respect to peculiarity of client projects and this is
followed by its utility in Training, and Performance Management Systems. Information
technologies contribute positively to staff recruitment for global IT service providers as
indicated in the cases under review. Especially its importance was felt in minimizing
turnover, as it supports allocation of employees to international engagements, including
scheduling and training. Such companies studied have adopted to culture and local labor
market differences that influence the HR functionalities needed. The case studies indicated
the necessity for local requisitions to adapt to global needs expressed through technology
usage. These companies feel that the development of information technology over the last
twenty years has been driven by imperatives to improve the service of the HR function,
further compounded by the growth of global enterprise-wide information systems (GEIS)
which are being used and such software system allows an organization to share common data
across functional areas of enterprises operating transnational and which produce and access
information in a real-time environment. Historically human resourcing specialists in these
organizations have focused their skills and knowledge on HR management processes, such as
resourcing. The introduction of this technological resource suggests the introduction of new
skills and competencies for the HR specialist, in particular project management and
information systems. The requirement for these new skills and knowledge sets has been a
challenging learning journey for many within the HR profession.
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The focus of this study was to gain an insight into the current status of IT adoption in
organizations to support resourcing. For some firms technology was used mainly for
administrative purposes, that is, it played a traditional support role for functional requirement
of procurement. There are firms that utilize more sophisticated technology applications, such
as Internet-based recruiting and these more sophisticated applications tend to occur within
very large, information technology-intensive companies.
The main conclusion of this paper derived from the case studies is the realization that the use
of business information technology is in a developing and retrieval mode of application. In
spite of this, it is wise to recognize the positive influence that these systems have in the
recruiting process, and it is worth believing that information technology will gain a place in
many organizations in the short and medium term. Regarding the commonest applications of
information technology, our findings indicate that a fairly large percentage of firms rely on
these systems for at least one of the stages of the recruitment process. Nevertheless, the
presence of these applications is scarcer for the most complex and delayed in time tasks, such
as decision making processes, because they require, in return, more complex information
technology. This conclusion is therefore reinforced by the findings expressed above, since it
is the developing stage of information technology what leads to this decompensate situation.
It was also observed that two groups of organizations lead the information technology
implementation trend: the parent companies, with regard to their subsidiaries, and the largest
firms in terms of number of employees. This seems a logical finding because their more
complex structures may benefit more of the advantages of information technology to increase
the efficiency of their recruiting processes. Besides, information technology is found to be
preferred in combination with other HRM practices. This reveals that human judgement is
still the main criterion for making decisions in this area, albeit assessed or supported by the
information provided by the information technology.
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